After seasons of unabashed activism on the runway and off, it was as if turning toward their home state of California infused Humberto Leon and Carol Lim’s Fall ’17 Opening Ceremony collection with a new levity. Presenting for the very first time in Los Angeles, as part of IMG’s Made event series (post-Moschino, but before Wiz Khalifa), the new setting proved that the OG OC inspiration remains the west.The collection, which begins arriving in stores today, read like a travel diary through the Southwest. Mining Georgia O’Keeffe’s works, the pair brought their currency of cool to archetypal items: Yolked shirting felt right paired back to elevated picnic plaids. Focus remained on the details, with tiered prints shown layered and a heavy use of ruched hemming lending the traditional motifs a still softness. Acid-trippy dyed denim pieces looked great shown with geometric and gradient knits, near-metallic velvets, and richly patterned outerwear. This was not OC’s familiar streetwear uniform. Most striking was the palette, which read like the Southwest sky. Taking a cue from the paintings of Ken Price, they leaned on an unusual but pleasing combination of pinks and greens.

No OC show would be complete without an element of the experiential. Two models, who at first crossed paths rather brusquely early on in their walks, returned to the center of the massive set and were joined by competing groups of “models” who fought choreographed martial arts sequences, tumbling, high-kicking, and combatting each other to the end. The dueling sides continued until there was only one man left standing: RZA on the mic.